Hutchison: GOP shouldn't build party around abortion

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Sunday Republicans can't build their party around a "personal" and "religious" issue like abortion.

"Mothers and daughters can disagree on abortion, and we shouldn't put a party around an issue that is so personal and also, religious-based," the retiring Republican senator said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I think we need to say, 'Here are our principles, and we welcome you as a Republican. We can disagree on any number of issues, but if you want to be a Republican, we welcome you."

Hutchison identifies as "pro-life," and has a mixed voting record on abortion rights.

The party's stance on abortion has come under scrutiny since Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) falsely said last week that women who are the victims of "legitimate rape" have biological defenses against pregnancy. On Tuesday, the GOP's platform committee approved an abortion plank without a rape exemption, which Democrats quickly dubbed the "Akin Plank."

Despite what the platform says, Hutchison said abortion rights supporters feel welcome in the GOP.

"A lot of people think the party platform is something that is rigid," she said. "It's not really."

Hutchison, who isn't running for reelection, joins Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in warning the party about its abortion stance. Hutchison's likely successor in the Senate, former Texas solicitor general Ted Cruz, is an opponent of abortion rights.